Hi Guys, I'm thinking of getting an '02 plate Sei - is there anything obvious I should be looking for bodywise. Been looking them up and it sounds like the rear axle subframe(?) can rot... - I'm more of a classic Panda guy so Seis are new to me

The most notorious place is the inner rear wheel arches. Open the boot and look under the carpet.

Have a look at this thread as the Sei is nearly identical to the Cinq so this will give you some ideas where to look - https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento/286650-rust-hole-restoration.html

Prevention is better than cure - so fit a set of plastic arch liners to help stop this sort of problem....

esp as replacement arch panels aren't available

Well I bought the car - looks in good condition generally - no rust in boot or much elsewhere as far as I can see. Will look at wheel arch liners. Seems this car has been mainly towed behind a motorhome and looks very much saveable. Thanks for the input guys, all I have to do now is sort out the key fobs... new batteries done jack sh*t...
Is there some fancy recoding routine I can try..?

As I haven't got the code card for ign key, looks like best solution for me is to cut out transponder chip and tape it to ignition barrel or glue into right place on inside of lower cover... from experience I know it'd only be a matter of time before I lose the blue key lol

Are the rear wheel arch protectors only available from Italy btw?

lightweightmick said:

Are the rear wheel arch protectors only available from Italy btw?

Click to expand...

I bought mini off of whitz https://www.fiatforum.com/members/whitz/
A lot of people get their bits from http://www.eurocarcare.net/contact.html, you can also get spares from Poland which aren't always available over here inc genuine Fiat parts (the Sei was built at FSM plant in Tychy) http://www.unto.pl/
You have to pay for postage but you can get an incredibly large amount of stuff sent over for the price.... & the price of the spares is often much cheaper than in the UK (very handy if you want lots of bits). NB: There will also be a small currency conversion fee to add to the final price.

BTW: from memory -i think the arch liners were designed for the Cinquecento but are meant to fit the Sei with a small bit of fettling. (haven't fitted mine as i'm currently fixing the hole in the photo!).

No progress on the remote... but, hey, I'm only used to 20th century cars anyway - be a nice touch though so I'll persevere.
Any reason the MPI expansion tank would be different to the SPI..? Can't see why they'd be different... mine has been gubbed with epoxy putty.
Still plenty around in scrappys I'd think though...
cheers, thanks for your help!

Damned memory
If you're scouring eBay for parts try searching for 'Fiat 600' as well as 'Fiat Seicento'. They re-badged the car in 2004.

cheers, just back tonight from a long weekend away...

remote sorted lol - the last owner had fitted an isolator switch! ... and I can see why 'beep beep' etc. and the alarm goes off when towing... ha ha
What a great little car though! Gave it a good wash on site and sorted 1st job...

When cooling fan kicked in it made a right racket eek: wtf is that sound?) so managed to get it off - just those 4*8mm self tappers and unclip that coolant pipe - couldn't get the nut holding the fan on though, but managed to get some spray grease behind and into the bearings by bending the little red tube right back on itself on the spray can and it purrs like a kitten now! Already I can see the main cause of demise of these great little cars - overheating! A poxy little radiator (but there's no room for a bigger one...) - and no temperature gauge... so there's a project to work on...
I couldn't see a temp switch on the radiator - is it on the block..? It's usual to see the sw on the rad... a manual override for the fan and a temp gauge are a must for ageing cars I would say...
I'm a convert def - :slayer:

forgot to add - surely the 'sporting' model has a temperature gauge..?

You'd think, but alas no. For the MPI the fan is ECU controlled, so there's no switch in the rad. There's a guide for fitting an aftermarket temp gauge - Click!

Is there a separate temperature switch for the warning light..? (ie. instead of the temp sender unit on a Panda engine as it looks like same engine to me...) or is this a kind of 2nd stage (probably too late!) reading from the ECU that operates the warning light..?
Is a Haynes manual going to be any good to me..?
thanks for the input btw - most appreciated

I have to admit to not being 100% certain with the MPIs, but there is a temp sensor in the inlet manifold of the SPI cars, I'm not sure where it is in the MPI.

Edit: Looks like it's in the inlet too.

Ellen and the little Centos both still going strong!

Thanks to the ePer I found the part no. (46411026) for the ARB mounting plate :slayer: and they are available - look about £20 ea. on the bay. Anyone know if they are still available in UK? (other than main dealers...)

Can't see the tester objecting to my repaired effort with new bush, but he might fail it on the bush on the other side and I ain't going to replace it unless he advises on it.

Cheers, keep up the good work you guys